All Is Not What It Seems

In The Beginning

A seven year old Shisui knocked on his aunt and uncle's door as his mother stood beside him, waiting for someone to open it. Both his aunt and uncle greeted them there, much to his mother's surprise. "Mikoto, it's good to see you up and about." She said, Mikoto smiled.

"Yes well, I have an excellent nurse..." Her husband, Fugaku, rolling his eyes at her teasing. "...and an even better nanny. Come with us." Shisui's mother nodded, pulling him along to follow the now parents of two to the nursery where they found a five year old Itachi gently rocking a two month old Sasuke. "See?"

"I see, already a doting brother huh?"

"Yep, he's even getting up when Sasuke has his late night feeding."

"Oh how cute."

While the parents talked, Shisui walked over to his cousin.

The five year old noticed his presence. "Hello, Shisui." He greeted properly and the seven year old greeted him back as he sat beside him.

"So this is your baby brother?" He asked and Itachi nodded.

"Do you want to hold him?" Shisui opened his arms and Itachi carefully transferred his baby brother into them. "Be sure to support his head." The seven year scanned the little baby's face, noticing how peaceful it was.

Because you don't know what's to come for you. He enviously noted, still wielding the shame of his cowardice. It had been several months since the Third Shinobi War, but he could see the betrayal that was on his former friend's face as he died on the battlefield. He blamed himself terribly for the death, when, in reality, it was the war that took his comrade.

And things aren't any better here either. The seven year old couldn't help but feel that pang in his heart as he thought of his home. Despite his young age, he knew of the village's aversion to his clan. How the adults would give him dirty looks and their kids would avoid him. There were only a few friends he was able to make and, even still, they held him under suspicion.

I wish we didn't have to fight all the time.

Baby Sasuke opened his eyes and as soon as he saw that it wasn't Itachi holding him, he wailed as loud his little lungs could. "Itachi, I think he wants you." Shisui, quickly yet carefully, gave Sasuke back to his brother, who immediately started gently bouncing the crying infant with soft shushing.

"There's no need to cry Sasuke, I'm here." Itachi cooed to him and Sasuke calmed down his cries. "That's it, it's okay. Did Shisui scare you a little because you don't know him? You don't have to be afraid, he's really nice. Watch your big brother." Before Shisui could ask what Itachi was going to do, the five year old boy had laid his head on Shisui's shoulder. He did tense up a bit, but mostly from the suddenness of the action and he quickly relaxed. "See, nice. So don't be scared."

Sasuke made an unimpressed grunting sound, snuggling more into his big brother, and Shisui huffed at the infant. Only two months old and he already has a brother complex. He remarked before noticing how big of a smile Itachi had from the affection from his baby brother. He's not any better, is he? A smile made a way on the seven year old's face. But it is kinda nice, how much they already love each other. Shisui wrapped an arm around his cousin waist and laid his head on top of Itachi's. I hope that never goes away.

Their mothers' eyes shined at the adorable display. "Oh that's so precious. It's like they are their own little family." Shisui's mother beamed. "Shisui being the daddy, Itachi being the mommy, and Sasuke is their little baby. It's so cute."

"If my Itachi was a girl, he'd be an excellent mommy." Mikoto said proudly.

"Please refrain from calling my son "mommy"." Fugaku deadpanned.